Editor,

The Aug. 12 Port of Coupeville meeting was packed — standing room only. A show of hands clearly indicated that those present wanted negotiations with the management group at Greenbank Farm to continue. During public comments, multiple requests were made that two commissioners either reverse their vote, or resign. Commissioner John Carr commented that he wanted to present and follow through with his plan and Commissioner Marshall Bronson commented that resigning would be “too embarrassing.” After one rational, but emotional plea, Mr. Bronson replied that those emotions had no place at the meeting.

There was only one dissenting speaker, during more than an hour of comments. Then the commissioners commenced the monthly meeting, without addressing public requests to revote or resign. Once again, comments fell on deaf ears. No new ideas were introduced, the number of man hours needed to run the farm would be considerably less. It was painful to watch the reinvention of the wheel. David Day will interview the current employees to learn what they do. Interesting. They had a preconceived idea of the number of employees needed, even though they did not really know what those employees do. It is very clear that they are clueless about managing operations of the farm, and how many volunteer hours are needed. Mr. Carr, who “really likes the organic farm school,” does not understand that the management group runs the farm school. If they no longer have a classroom or student housing, the management group and farm school may depart together.

The commissioners have created a mess and have only a few short months to clean it up. Public trust has plummeted. It is still not clear how the port’s management of the farm will save enough money to solve its overall problem — very expensive future repairs at the wharf. Their financial solution represents a drop in the bucket, or about the replacement cost of one piling. Sadly, “think global/act local” doesn’t really matter when public officials have their own agenda and too much ego to listen to the voice of reason from their constituents.

CONNIE LLOYD

Greenbank